Nearly 40% of the applicants hold diploma, graduate or higher qualifications
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 9
More than 72,000 job seekers remain registered with employment exchanges across Nagaland, with a significant share possessing higher educational qualifications.
As of December 31, 2025, a total of 72,871 applicants were listed on the live register of employment exchanges in the state, highlighted the Annual Administrative Report (AAR) 2025-26 of the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
The figure marked an increase by around 3.3% from 70,558 registered job seekers as of December 31, 2024.
Of the total applicants in 2025, graduates account for 19,359, while postgraduates number 6,496. The register also included 2,016 technical degree holders and 535 diploma holders, indicating that a considerable number of job seekers possess specialised or professional qualifications.
Taken together, applicants with graduate-level education and above total 28,406, accounting for nearly 39% of all job seekers on the register.
Overall, 54,177 of the applicants are male, while 18,694 are female.
Among all categories, below matric applicants form the single largest group with 20,000 job seekers, followed closely by graduates with 19,359 applicants.
Other categories include 13,636 matriculates, 10,829 pre-university applicants, and 6,496 postgraduates, along with smaller numbers of technical degree holders and diploma holders.
The survey also recorded 1,005 applicants in a separate live register for persons with disabilities (PwDs) as of December 31, 2025, raising the total number of job seekers to over 73,800.
High self-employment registrations but only two placed
The survey also provided data on registration and placement under self-employment initiatives during 2025, showing a large number of registrations but negligible placements.
During the year, 23,091 individuals registered for self-employment opportunities, including 17,360 males and 5,731 females.
However, only two placements were recorded under the self-employment category for the entire year, both reported from Phek district.
Among districts, Dimapur recorded the highest number of registrations with 8,292 individuals, followed by Kohima/Peren with 6,072 registrations.
Other districts recorded smaller numbers, including Tuensang/Kiphire (2,547), Mon (2,447), Mokokchung/Longleng (1,368), Wokha (977), Zunheboto (714), and Phek (674).
1. Table: Applicants on Live Register of Employment Exchanges (as of 31 Dec 2025)
Categories of Applicants | Male | Female | Total | |
1 | Below Matric | 18,103 | 1,897 | 20,000 |
2 | Matriculate | 11,608 | 2,028 | 13,636 |
3 | Pre-University | 7,890 | 2,939 | 10,829 |
4 | Graduates | 11,716 | 7,643 | 19,359 |
5 | Post-Graduates | 3,055 | 3,441 | 6,496 |
6 | Degrees (Tech) | 1,427 | 589 | 2,016 |
7 | Diploma | 378 | 157 | 535 |
Total | 54,177 | 18,694 | 72,871 |
Source: Annual Administrative Report (AAR) 2025-26 of the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
